Musculoskeletal Flashcards
Which autoimmune disease has IgG antibodies that destroy post-junctional, nicotinic, Ach receptors at the neuromuscular junction?
Myasthenia gravis
How does skeletal muscle weakness occur in myasthenia gravis?
There aren’t enough receptors to translate the extracellular signal into an intracellular response.
This manifests as skeletal muscle weakness.
Ach is present in sufficient quantity
What gland plays a key role in Myasthenia Gravis?
Thymus gland plays a key role.
A thymectomy brings symptom relief to many patients.
What is a key feature of myasthenia gravis in terms of the skeletal muscle function.
The skeletal muscle weakness becomes worse later in the day or develops with exercise.
Periods of rest allow for recovery of skeletal muscle function.
What are the symptoms of myasthenia gravis?
Diplopia, ptosis (earliest signs)
Bulbar muscle weakness (muscles of mouth and throat) which leads to dysphagia, dysarthria, and difficulty handling saliva
Dyspnea with exertion
Proximal muscle weakness
What are some situations that exacerbate symptoms of myasthenia gravis?
Pregnancy
Infection
Electrolyte abnormalities
Surgical and psychological stress
Aminoglycoside antibiotics
What do you have to worry about with pregnancy and the placenta with myasthenia gravis?
Pregnancy intensifies the symptoms of myasthenia gravis.
Anti-AchR IgG antibodies cross the placenta and cause weakness in 15-20 percent of neonates.
This can persist up to 2-4 weeks, which is consistent with the half-life of the Anti-AchR IgG antibodies in the neonate’s circulation.
These neonates may require airway management.
What are four ways to treat myasthenia gravis?
Anticholinesterases
Immunosuppression
Surgery
Plasmapheresis
What is the first line oral medical treatment for myasthenia gravis?
Oral Pyridostigmine is the first line medical treatment.
Overdoes in anticholinesterases causes cholinergic crisis and muscle weakness.
Cholinergic crises may be difficult to differentiate from myasthenic crisis.
What is the Tensilon Test?
It will determine if the patient is in cholinergic crisis or myasthenic crisis.
How do you administer the Tensilon Test?
Administering 1-2 mg IV edrophonium
Based on the Tensilon test, how can you tell if the patient is in cholinergic crisis or myasthenic crisis?
Administering 1-2 mg IV edrophonium.
If muscle weakness is made worse, then the patient has cholinergic crisis. An anticholinergic is the appropriate treatment for this patient.
If there is an improvement in muscle strength, then the patient had an exacerbation of myasthenic symptoms.
What four immunosppressions can you use for myasthenia gravis?
Corticosteroids
Cyclosporine
Azathioprine
Mycophenolate
What surgery can you perform for myasthenia gravis?
Thymectomy reduces circulating Anti-AchR IgG in most patients
Surgical approach may be via median sternotomy or by the transcervical approach.
What treatment for myasthenia gravis can provide a temporary relief during myasthenic crisis or prior to thymectomy?
Plasmapheresis
A patient with myasthenia gravis, they will have an increased sensitivity to which drugs as well as an increased resistance to which drug?
Because there is a reduction in the number of nicotinic receptors (type-M) at the neuromuscular junction, patients with myasthenia gravis have an increased sensitivity to NON-DEPLARIZING NMBs and a resistance to SUCCINYLCHOLINE.
How should you dose nondepolarizers in a patient with myasthenia gravis?
Patients will have an increased sensitivity with nondepolarizers.
This causes an increased potency.
Reduce dose by 1/2 to 2/3 and monitor the response with nerve stimulator.
Remember that volatile anesthetics cause skeletal muscle relaxation by acting in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. In many cases, this eliminates the need for neuromuscular blockers.
What would be the RSI dose for succinylcholine for a patient with myasthenia gravis?
1.5-2.0 mg/kg
Pyridostigmine is the mainstay of medical management.
It impairs the efficacy of pseudocholinesterase. This prolongs the duration of succinylcholine.
Remember that volatile anesthetics cause skeletal muscle relaxation by acting in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. In many cases, this eliminates the need for neuromuscular blockers.
What are some post operative concerns for a patient with myasthenia gravis?
Patient are very sensitive to the effects of residual neuromuscular blockade.
Bulbar muscle weakness (mouth and throat) manifests as difficulty oral secretions. This increases the risk of pulmonary aspiration.
Patients should be counseled on the need for post operative ventilation..
What would increase the risk for a patient for post operative ventilation, if they have myasthenia gravis?
Disease duration > 6 years
Daily pyridostigmine > 750mg/day
Vital capacity < 2.9L
COPD
Surgical approach: Median sternotomy > transcervical thymectomy
What are other names for Myasthenic Syndrome?
Eaton-Lambert Syndrome
Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic syndrome (LEMS)
What is Eaton-Lambert Syndrome?
A disorder of the neuromuscular junction that results in skeletal muscle weakness.
AKA Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) or Myasthenic Syndrome
NOT the same as myasthenia gravis.
What is the pathophysiology of Eaton-Lambert syndrome?
IgG mediated destruction of the PRESYNAPTIC voltage-gated calcium channel at the presynaptic nerve terminal.
When the action potential depolarizes the nerve terminal, Ca+2 entry into the presynaptic neuron is limited, thereby reducing the amount of Ach that is released into the synaptic cleft.
The postsynaptic nicotinic receptor is present in normal quantity and functions normally.
What are the clinical presentation of Eaton-Lambert syndrome?
The proximal muscles are most affected, and weakness is generally worse in the morning and gets better throughout the day.
The respiratory musculature and diaphragm become weak.
Autonomic nervous system dysfunction causes orthostatic hypotension, slowed gastric motility, and urinary retention.